AAS Committee on the Status of Women
Issue of August 27, 2010
eds. Joan Schmelz, Caroline Simpson & Michele Montgomery
This week's issues:
1. National Academies Report on Gender Differences
2. MIT Opens Discussions on Endorsements of the Pasadena Recommendations
3. Balancing Work-Life
4. SETI Gurls
5. Women Astronomers: Reaching for the Stars
6. NASAs Summer of Innovation Project
7. AAAS Awards and Prizes
8. National Research Council of the National Academies
9. Postdoctoral Fellowships at Swinburne University
10. How to Submit, Subscribe, or Unsubscribe to AASWOMEN
11. Access to Past Issues of AASWOMEN
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1. National Academies Report on Gender Differences
From: WIPHYS, Aug 24, 2010
The Committee on Women in Science, Engineering, and Medicine of the
National Academies has completed the report Gender Differences at
Critical Transitions in the Careers of Science, Engineering, and
Mathematics Faculty. The summary and full report can be accessed
online for free at
http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12062.
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2. MIT Opens Discussions on Endorsements of the Pasadena Recommendations
From: Edmund Bertschinger [edbert_at_MIT.EDU]
The Pasadena Recommendations have a new endorsement that sets an
example for institutions supporting gender equity which may have
concerns about implementation details. The MIT Physics Department has
signed on at
http://www.aas.org/cswa/pasadena_endorse.html
There they also present discussion of those Recommendations which
raised concerns about interpretation. Other academic institutions may
have withheld their endorsement for similar reasons. MIT hopes that
their example will encourage other departments to discuss the Pasadena
Recommendations and to accept them in ways that advance an
institutional commitment to gender equity. In particular, we
encourage departments of physics and other STEM fields to examine and
consider endorsing the Recommendations.
A qualified endorsement has several advantages. First, by pursuing
this path one encourages discussion and wider acceptance of the
importance of gender equity. Second, by examining where their
institutional practices are challenged by the Pasadena
Recommendations, departments may identify ways to improve their
practices. At MIT we have found this to be true with all three
recommendations where we have concerns. Third, by sharing concerns we
teach each other best practices to help advance gender equity across
the field. Finally, by taking concrete steps to promote gender equity
and publicizing that fact, departments can gain competitive advantage
in recruiting, promoting, and retaining talented individuals.
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3. Balancing Work-Life
From: George Jacoby [jacoby_at_noao.edu]
Through a Facebook posting, I came across this article by Sarah Bridle
on balancing work and life:
http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/career_magazine/previous_issues/articles/
2010_08_20/caredit.a1000082
Her original report can be found at:
http://www.sarahbridle.net/wlba09/WLBA09-Report_20091110.pdf
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4. SETI Gurls
From: Edna DeVore [edevore_at_seti.org]
[Heidi B. Hammel [hbh_at_alum.mit.edu] pointed us to this fantastic
women-in-science video on YouTube. In response, the editors contacted
Edna DeVore for more information about the video -- eds.]
SETI Gurls (SETI Institute Summer Students vs. Katy Perry 'California
Gurls')" was created by students in the 2010 Astrobiology Research
Experience for Undergraduates at the SETI Institute. There were 19
students this summer from across the nation, and they worked and
played for 10 weeks at both SETI Institute and NASA Ames Research
Center with SETI Institute researchers. The REU program includes a
week at the Hat Creek Radio Observatory (a.k.a. Allen Telescope Array)
and Lassen Volcanic National Park. Dr. Cynthia Phillips leads the
program which is funded by the NSF, NASA's Astrobiology Institute,
and NASA ROSES grants. Applications for summer 2011 open in late fall
of 2010. Send us your students! More information:
http://www.seti.org/reu
Watch for Jill Tarter's cameo appearance in SETI Gurls:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wb5QWXenpXo
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5. Women Astronomers: Reaching for the Stars
From: Michele M. Montgomery [montgomery_at_physics.ucf.edu]
The book, "Women Astronomers: Reaching for the Stars" by award winner
Mabel Armstrong, is the first in a planned series on "Discovering
Women in Science." The book is intended for Young Adults.
The astronomers featured are: EnHuduanna, Hypatia of Alexandria,
Sondok, Hildegard of Bingen, Caroline Herschel, Maria Mitchell,
Williamina Steven Fleming, Annie Jump Cannon, Henrietta Swan Leavitt,
Antonia Maury, Cecelia Payne Gaposchkin, Helen Sawyer Hogg, Margaret
Burbidge, Nancy Roman, Vera Rubin, Beatrice Tinsley, Jocelyn Bell
Burnell, Margaret Geller, Carolyn Shoemaker, Sally Ride, Jill Tartar,
Wendy Freedman and the rising "stars" of today.
More information can be found at
http://www.beaglebay.com/categories_detail.html?cid=3.
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6. NASAs Summer of Innovation Project
From: WIPHYS Aug 24, 2010
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) seeks to
identify potential partners for its Summer of Innovation project. The
project engages the nation's middle school youth in intensive STEM
experiences that will have an impact on their academic performance,
choice of STEM coursework, degree programs and, eventually, career
path. NASA is looking for partners to develop creative ways to help
achieve one or more project goals and to increase the impact and
visibility of the project.
For more information about the project and to view the announcement, visit
http://www.nasa.gov/soi.
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7. AAAS Awards and Prizes
From: WIPHYS August 18, 2010
Entry deadlines are approaching for several prestigious American
Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) awards. The various
AAAS awards and prizes recognize scientists, journalists, and public
servants for significant contributions to science and to the public's
understanding of science.
More info at
http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2010/0806awards_deadline.shtml.
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8. National Research Council of the National Academies
From: H. Ray Gamble [rap_at_nas.edu]
The National Research Council of the National Academies sponsors a
number of awards for graduate, postdoctoral and senior researchers at
federal laboratories and affiliated institutions. These awards
include generous stipends ranging from $42,000 - $75,000 per year for
recent Ph.D. recipients, and higher for additional experience and
graduate entry level stipends beginning at $30,000 and higher for
additional experience. The awards provide the opportunity for
recipients to do independent research in some of the best-equipped and
staffed laboratories in the U.S. Research opportunities are open to
U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and for some of the laboratories,
foreign nationals.
Detailed program information, including instructions on how to apply
online and a list of participating laboratories, is available on the
NRC Research Associateship Programs Web site at:
http://www.national-academies.org/rap.
Questions should be directed to the NRC at 202-334-2760 (phone) or
rap_at_nas.edu.
There are four review cycles annually. The remaining deadline for
2010 is November 1. Deadlines for 2011 are:
February 1
May 1
August 1
November 1
Applicants should contact prospective Advisers at the lab(s) prior to
the application deadline to discuss their research interests and
funding opportunities.
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9. Postdoctoral Fellowships at Swinburne University
From: Sarah Maddison [smaddison_at_swin.edu.au]
The Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing at Swinburne
University, Melbourne, Australia, is inviting applications for two
Super Science Fellowships funded by the Australian Research Council.
Super Science Fellows receive an attractive package: the appointment
is for fixed term for three years at a Lecturer equivalent position
(Level B1). The salary is AUD 72,500 p.a. plus 17% superannuation
(pension), and the Fellow also receives a AUD 20,000 per year research
expenses allowance. The funding rules stipulate that the applicants
must usually be within three years of their PhD at the time of their
appointment and must take up the appointment between July and December
2011.
The appointees will join an active research group in Australia's most
rapidly growing astronomy department. The Centre has a
state-of-the-art supercomputer available in house as well as access to
innovative 3D visualization facilities. Melbourne, consistently rated
as one of the most liveable cities in the world, is a cosmopolitan
place with a mild climate and many cultural and sporting events.
Mountains, ocean and wine growing regions are easily accessible. The
Centre itself is located in the diverse inner city suburb of Hawthorn
with very good public transport connections. For more details about
the Centre, see
http://astronomy.swin.edu.au/
Position Titles:
*Swinburne Super Science Fellowship in Galaxy Simulation*
http://members.aas.org/JobReg/JobDetailPage.cfm?JobID=26631
*Swinburne Super Science Fellowship in Observational Galaxy Evolution*
http://members.aas.org/JobReg/JobDetailPage.cfm?JobID=26630
Applications for both positions close 15 December 2010.
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10. How to Submit, Subscribe, or Unsubscribe to AASWOMEN
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11. Access to Past Issues of AASWOMEN
Past issues of AASWOMEN are available at
http://www.aas.org/cswa/AASWOMEN.html
Each annual summary includes an index of topics covered.
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End of AASWList Digest, Vol 42, Issue 4
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